Storage battery terminal clamp



June 2, 1 931.

w. J. MONTAMBAULT STORAGE BATTERY TERMINAL CLAMP Filed Feb. 11, 1930 INVENTOR iljred JMontambaul'I ATTORNEY Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED- STATES WILIBRED J. MONTAMBAULT, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT STORAGE BATTERY- TERMINAL CLAMP Application filed February 11, 1930. Serial No. 427,523.

storage battery.

One object of this invention is to-provide a battery terminal clam of the above nature having a pair of hinged aws which are adapted to be tightly held in. contact with the terminal post by means of a s ring.

A further object is to provide a device of this nature which will be simple in construction, inex ensive to manufacture, easy to install an mampulate, compact, ornamental in appearance, and very eflicient and durable in use.

With these and other object in view there has been illustrated on the accompanying drawings one form in which the invention ma be conveniently embodied in practice.

I: ig. 1 represents a perspective view of the terminal clamp as it appears when installed upon a battery terminal postand connected to a cable.

Fi 2 is a plan view of the battery terminal 0 amp.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a side view of the same.

Referring now to-the drawings in which like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 indicates a storage battery having the usual upstanding terminal post 11, usually constructed of lead, and ada ted to be connected by means of the improve clamp to the bare end of a stranded wire cable 12 having an insulating covering 13.

As herein disclosed, the improved terminal clamp comprises a cylindrical hollow body member 14 adapted to fit tightly around the bare end of the wire cable 12 and t0 belocked tightly upon said cable, as by a set screw 15 threaded into said body member 14. The bod member 14 is provided on one side with an integral fixed aw 16, semi-circular in shape, said jaw 16 having a reduced apertured inner section 17 for receiving a hinge member, such as a cotter pin 18, by means of which a movable jaw 19 is hingedly connected to the fixed jaw 16. Each of the aws 16 and 19 are provided with a plurality of inwardly extending teeth 20 which are adapted to penetrate the lead battery terminal post 11 to in sure a good electrical contact.

In order to resiliently force the jaws 16 and 19 tightly into contact with the terminal 11, provision is made of a coiled spring 21 havmg its ends 22 and 23 connected to a pair of oppositely extending curved hook members 24 and 25 extending from the hinged jaw 19 and the fixed jaw 16 respectively. The central portion of the spring 21 is held in alinement with the jaws 16 and 19 by means of a pair of curved guiding seats 26 and 27 formed in the free extremities of said jaws, as clearly shown on the drawing. 1

Operation In operation, when it is desired to remove the clamp from the battery terminal post 11, it will only be necessary for the operator to force the movable hinged jaw 19 away from the fixed jaw 16, as by a screw driver, or other implement which may be inserted between the jaw extremities. The jaws may also be forced apart manually. The body member 14 may then betwisted back and forth to loosen the jaws, after which the clamp and wire cable may be easily lifted ofi of the terminal post 11.

While a coiled spring has been herein disclosed as the means for maintaining the a hinged jaws of the clamp in engagement with the battery terminal post, .it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to this particular means, but other forms of springs, such as a curved leaf-spring, the

ends of which engage both of the clamping jaws, may be substituted for said coiled spring within the general spirit and scope of the invention.

One advantage of the present invention is vibration of the ear, the tighter will the jaws 7 be clamped upon the terminal post.

While. there has been disclosed in this specification one form in which the invention may be embodied, it is to be understood that this form is shown for the purpose of illustration only, and that the invention is .not to be limited to the specific disclosure but may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit. In

short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new, and for WhlGh'it is desired to secure Letters Patent, is:

1. In a clamp for connecting an electric cable to a battery terminal post, a tubular body member for fitting about said cable,

means for locking said body-member to said cable, said body member having a stationary jaw, a movable jaw hinged to said stationary jaw, and a coiled spring for resiliently connecting said aws, said jaws having hooks for attachment to the ends of said spring.

2. In a clamp for connecting an electric cable to a battery terminal post, a tubular body member for fitting about said cable, means for locking said body member to said cable, said body member having a grooved stationary jaw, a grooved movable jaw hinged to said stationary jaw, and spring means located in the grooved sections of said jaws for resilently pressing said movable aw toward said stationary jaw for producing a strong unimpeded clamping action upon said post.

In testimony whereof, I have aflixed my signature to this specification.

WILFRED J. MONTAMBAULT. 

